Tamperproof closure



United States Patent Richard F. Hendrickson Erie, Pennsylvania;

Roderick V. King, Girard, Pennsylvania 1 826,233

May 20, 1969 Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 704,720,

Feb. 12, 1968, Patent No. 3,452,894.

Sterling Seal Company, Erie,

Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Patented Dec. 1, 1970 inventors Appl. No. Filed Assignee TAMPERPROOF CLOSURE 14 Claims, 14 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl. 220/27, 215/42, 222/182 Int. Cl. B65d 17/00 Field ofSearch 220/27, 54;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,102,658 9/1963 Rosen 220/27 3,171,580 3/1965 Davis et al.. 220/27 3,128,004 4/1964 Soffer 220/27 Primary E,\'aminerGeorge T. Hall Attorney-Charles L. Lovercheck ABSTRACT: A protective cap having tamperproof qualities suitable for use in combination with an aerosol can. The cap being of generally cup-shaped design made of relatively thin material. A shoulder around the periphery of the cap extends out over the rim of the can and a skirt extends downwardly from the outer portion of the shoulder, an inward projection within the skirt adapted to underlie the rim of an aerosol can and an upward extension of the shoulder forming a protrusion which can be readily removed thereby weakening the shoulder.

Patented Dec. 1, 1970 Sheet FIG.

INVENTOR. K/awmo Fffin/px/msm. BY Ronnie; V. kwa

Patented-Dec. 1, 1970 1 3,544,023

Sheetior3 Klumen fifieumzlcxsolv RoDEK/tk V KM/6 MKM MW,

TAMPERPRODF CLOSURE STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to caps and, more particularly, to tamperproof caps especially suited for use on aerosol cans.

C ROSS-REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS This application is a Continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. application, Ser. No. 704,720,filed Feb. 12, 1968, now US Pat. No. 3,452,894.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide an improved cap for an aerosol can.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cap for an aerosol can that is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and simple and efficient to use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tamperproof cap for an aerosol can.

Still another object of the invention is to supply a reusable closure even after the pull tab has been removed.

Another object is to provide a number of pull tabs spaced around the cap to give stacking ridges to seat on to restrict nesting of closures when in stacks.

Still another object is to provide a cover having a removable tab which may be removed and to provide visual proof of removability of the cap.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a cap according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cap taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view of the cap shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the tab removed.

FIG. 4 is a view of a cap having another embodiment of the tab according to the invention.

FIG. 5 is a view of a cap having another embodiment of the tab according to the invention.

FIG. 6 is a view of a cap having another of the tab according to the invention.

FIG. 7 is a view of a cap having another embodiment of the tab according to the invention.

FIG. 8 is a view of a cap having another embodiment of the tab according to the invention.

FIG. 9 is a view of a cap having another embodiment of the tab according to the invention.

FIG. 10 is a view of a cap having another embodiment of the tab according to the invention.

FIG. 11 is a view of a cap having another embodiment of the tab according to the invention.

FIG. 12 is a view of a cap having another embodiment ofthe tab according to the invention.

FIG. 13 is a view ofa cap having another embodiment ofthe tab according to the invention.

FIG. 14 is a view of a cap having another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention disclosed involves a cup-shaped cap 10 which has a cylindrical sidewall 20 which terminates in an outwardly extending shoulder 11 which is adapted to rest on a seam 15 of an aerosol can 22. The aerosol can has generally cylindrical sidewalls 14 which terminate in a seam 15 which presents a downwardly facing shoulder 18. The seam extends entirely around the can in a conventional manner. The breast 16 of the can is attached to the sidewalls 14. The breast will usually have a valve in the top of it and the cap forms a protection for the valve and prevents unauthorized tampering.

The cap likewise has a top 30 and a bead 17 formed in the skirt 21 which underlies the shoulder 18 of the can when the cap is in place on the can. The bead could be in the form of spaced lugs.

The cap would normally be made of a relatively thin thermoformable plastic material but could be made of thin metal or any other suitable material, preferably polystyrene.

When the cap is snapped in place, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the cap cannot be readily removed without damaging the cap. In order to make the cap easily removable, the tab 13 is provided which has an outside surface that is generally parallel and an upward continuation of the skirt 21 is attached to the cap wall 20 by the shoulder 11. The tab 13 will be slotted, scored, fractured, or otherwise weakened at 26 so that a user can insert his thumbnail or a suitable tool behind the tab and break the tab off the cap as shown in FIG. 3, thereby breaking off a section of the shoulder 11 and skirt 21 so that the cap can be readily removed from the can.

When the upper end of the raised tab portion is pulled downward, the natural orientation of the material enables the operator to tear off the lower bead, thus releasing the closure from the can.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4, a cap 1120 is shown supported on a can 1122 having sidewalls 1114. A tab 1113 is supported above the shoulder 1111 which is fixed integral to the can. The cap will have a bead, such as bead 17 in FIGS. 1 through 3, for holding it onto the can. The tab 1113 will have a scored line 1117 extending up along the sides and across the top of the tab as shown at 1117.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5, the tab 113 has a top with converging edges that come together at at an apex. This apex makes it possible for a user to break the tab loose with his fingernail or a sharp instrument.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 6, the cap 210 is shown having a skirt 221 with a tab 213 which is wedgeshaped and terminates adjacent the inner periphery of the cap at 214. The tab is scored across its top at 217 to make it easy to start it to break loose.

In the embodiment ofthe invention shown in FIG. 7, the cap 310 is shown having a tab 313. It is scored at a line 317 so that the user may break this scored part and insert the tip of his finger and pull down the top portion and push in on the bottom part of the tab as he pulls out, thereby easily ripping the skirt 321.

In the embodiment ofthe invention shown in FIG. 8, the cap 410 is shown with a tab 413 supported above the skirt 421. The sides of the tab are tapered toward each other as shown and the tab is scored at 420 across its top to facilitate initiating the breaking loose of the tab, and subsequently the skirt 421.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 9, the cap 510 has a tab 513 with a scored line across its arched top at 517. The user can insert his finger through this arched top and thereby break loose the tab 513 and thereby rip the skirt 521.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 10, the tab 613 extends flush with the skirt 621 and extends upwardly flush with the top of the cap 610. A scored line 617 is formed in the upper part of the tab which is part of the are forming the boundary of the cap top. Through this scored line, an operator can insert his finger and rip the tab and, therefore, the skirt 621.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 11, a cap 710 has a skirt 721 and a top with a slot 713 formed in it. the user insert his finger through the slot and, therefore, rip the cap down along the scored lines 717.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 12, a cap 810 has a skirt 821 and a slot 817 formed in the side to define a tab 813. The operator can insert his finger into the slot 817 and spring the tab 813 outward and rip the side of the cap down through the skirt 821 thereby loosening the cap. In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 13, the cap 910 has a slot 913 formed in it so that a sharp instrument, such as a knife, can be inserted to break the cap and, therefore, loosen it from the rim of the can.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 14, a cap 1010 is shown and has the tab 1013 which is tapered from one side toward the other, that is, it is thicker at one side than the other. This shape of tab assists in orienting the cap in production and for secondary operation such as printing.

We claim: 1. A suitable for use with an aerosol can comprising a cupshaped cap having a closed end:

said cap having generally cylindrical sidewalls terminating in an outwardly directed shoulder extending around said cap;

said cap having an open end adapted to rest on the upper edge of a can;

said cap having a downwardly directed skirt;

a scored line in said cylindrical sidewall spaced from said open end and adapted to function as a starting point for a tear-out whereby a tab can be torn from said skirt;

said cap being made from a relatively thin material;

a skirt extending downward from said shoulder forming a collar and being generally parallel to said cylindrical sidewall;

and an inwardly extending bead formed in said skirt;

said bead being adapted to underlie the chime of an aerosol can whereby said cap is held in position on said can;

a raised tab portion formed in said cap sidewall, adjacent said open end;

said tab being substantially a continuation of said skirt and extending upward from said shoulder; and

said tab being an integral part of said cap and having a weakened portion whereby said tab may be removed thereby tearing off a section of said sidewall including said collar and bead.

2. The cap recited in claim 1 wherein said cap is made from an integral piece of thermoformable material.

3. The cap recited in claim 1 wherein an outwardly directed shoulder extends entirely around said cap.

4. The cap recited in claim 2 wherein said sidewall extends downward from said shoulder forming a collar and is generally parallel to said cylindrical sidewall.

5. The cap recited in claim 4 wherein said tab is substantially a continuation of said collar.

6. The cap recited in claim 1 wherein said cap is disposed on an aerosol can,

said can having a cylindrical sidewall terminating at its upper part in a chime.

said chime extends outwardly beyond said cylindrical sidewall and presents a downwardly facing shoulder. and said bead is adapted to snap under said shoulder.

7. The cap recited in claim 1 wherein said cap is disposed on a said aerosol can.

8 The cap recited in claim 1 wherein said tab has two spaced sides extending outward generally radially from said cap. and an outside surface generally concentric to said sidewalls.

9. The cap recited in claim 8 wherein said tab terminates at its top in a flat end.

10. The tab recited in claim 8 wherein said tab terminates at its top in an arcuate surface.

11. The cap recited in claim 1 wherein said tab has a generally flat top and terminates at its lower end at said cap surface.

12. The cap recited in claim 9 wherein said tab top end terminates flush with the top of said cap.

13. The cap recited in claim 1 wherein the upper end of said top has two flat surfaces joining each other in an apron 14. The cap and can combination recited in claim 1 wherein said upper end of said tab terminates flush with the closed end of said cap. 

